Obituary: Genevieve “Gen” Betzen

Thursday

Nov 7, 2013 at 10:48 AM

Genevieve “Gen” Betzen, 76, of Granite Falls passed away Thursday, October 31, 2013 at Shoreview Senior Living. Mass of Christian burial was held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 6 at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Granite Falls. Visitation was from 5 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, Novem-ber 5, at the Wing-Bain Funeral home in Granite Falls and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church. Genevieve L. “Gen” Betzen was born on November 5, 1936 in Breckenridge, the daughter of Michael and Madeline (Kerean) Casper. Gen was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Faith at St. Mary Catholic Church in Breckenridge. She grew up and attended school in Breckenridge with the Class of 1954. On August 17, 1957 Gen was united in marriage to Donald “Don” Betzen at St. Mary Catholic Church in Breckenridge. To this union five children were born. Don and Gen made their home in Granite Falls where Gen became very active in St. Andrew Catholic Church affairs. She served as a religious education teacher and was actively involved in the Ladies Association and also sang in the church choir. She was the secretary for the Granite Falls Chamber of Commerce for several years and served on the board of directors for the hospital. Gen was very interested in making Granite Falls a better place to live, and for this service was honored as the Woman of the Year as a Chamber of Commerce award. Gen very much enjoyed flower gardening and was quite proud of her flowers at the house on Prentice Street. She was also a partner to her husband Don in starting the Dairy Queen franchise in Granite Falls, where she also worked. Gen was a devoted wife and loving mother and grandmother. She also enjoyed making “hollyhock dolls” for the grandchildren when they visited and always brought them (in parade fashion) to the “Korner Store” for treats. Something her grandchildren still remember. Gen simply enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Surviving family include her husband Don of Granite Falls; her children: Scott (Jackie) of Burlington, Wisconsin, Sue (Rich) Christianson of Maple Grove, Katie Hamilton of Saginaw, Mike of Zephyr Hills, Florida and Tom of Granite Falls; 11 grandchildren; her sister: Sr. Kathryn Casper OSB of St. Joseph. She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother Michael Casper and one sister Midge Lamvik. Arrangements were with the Wing-Bain Funeral Home of Granite Falls. Memorials are preferred to Alzheimer’s Association.

Genevieve “Gen” Betzen, 76, of Granite Falls passed away Thursday, October 31, 2013 at Shoreview Senior Living. Mass of Christian burial was held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 6 at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Granite Falls. Visitation was from 5 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, Novem-ber 5, at the Wing-Bain Funeral home in Granite Falls and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church. Genevieve L. “Gen” Betzen was born on November 5, 1936 in Breckenridge, the daughter of Michael and Madeline (Kerean) Casper. Gen was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Faith at St. Mary Catholic Church in Breckenridge. She grew up and attended school in Breckenridge with the Class of 1954. On August 17, 1957 Gen was united in marriage to Donald “Don” Betzen at St. Mary Catholic Church in Breckenridge. To this union five children were born. Don and Gen made their home in Granite Falls where Gen became very active in St. Andrew Catholic Church affairs. She served as a religious education teacher and was actively involved in the Ladies Association and also sang in the church choir. She was the secretary for the Granite Falls Chamber of Commerce for several years and served on the board of directors for the hospital. Gen was very interested in making Granite Falls a better place to live, and for this service was honored as the Woman of the Year as a Chamber of Commerce award. Gen very much enjoyed flower gardening and was quite proud of her flowers at the house on Prentice Street. She was also a partner to her husband Don in starting the Dairy Queen franchise in Granite Falls, where she also worked. Gen was a devoted wife and loving mother and grandmother. She also enjoyed making “hollyhock dolls” for the grandchildren when they visited and always brought them (in parade fashion) to the “Korner Store” for treats. Something her grandchildren still remember. Gen simply enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Surviving family include her husband Don of Granite Falls; her children: Scott (Jackie) of Burlington, Wisconsin, Sue (Rich) Christianson of Maple Grove, Katie Hamilton of Saginaw, Mike of Zephyr Hills, Florida and Tom of Granite Falls; 11 grandchildren; her sister: Sr. Kathryn Casper OSB of St. Joseph. She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother Michael Casper and one sister Midge Lamvik. Arrangements were with the Wing-Bain Funeral Home of Granite Falls. Memorials are preferred to Alzheimer’s Association.